Vocation is Integral

Hey guys,

Just listened to this in between parents (parent teacher interviews tonight).

Just beautiful, elequant and poinient.

If you have the time - listen, would love your thoughts -

[Click Here][http://www.qideas.org/video/vocation-is-integral.aspx]

Chris.

Sabbath

2013–07–11 Big Year - Sabath

• movement of going slow

• difficult when reading to kids, not wanting to skip certain parts (ie. go fast… not prepared to go slow)

• opinion on technology… they can be used to cement relationships, but often ists more of a divisive thing (not engaging), sts - people said in a conversation, even if not receiving a call, people felt less intimacy (possibility of interruption)

• some people have cracked down on it in church… (using phone)

• Use of Tech - frame it in terms of an addiction - to map this area, to know what is going wrong, computer fatigue (is it the same

Hare to guard the sacredness of the concept… always left over things to do….

Need to plan more diligently… structures in place… - Nathan took Ally out for a romantic escape - rule “no use of technology”

• Appropriate… use of technology - (restful use of technology - was that restful and restoring my soul? TV - watching a movie can be really good)
• Silence vs. Stimulating (being sensitive to one another and needs)
• Amy, start the day by saying, “I don’t need to do any of these things”, but as a need arrives, you can respond to it if it is restful. Also, not having anything booked in is good - plod around days - won’t feel guilty if I put a load of washing on in a relaxed, ‘have to do it’ way". Attitude towards work. Don’t mind stopping - or being interrupted. A posture - perspective - towards the day. Intentionality.
• Work out a way that God can be more part of the focus for the day - not just ‘rest’
• Good chapter on Sabbath - Isaiah - “don’t just do what pleases you, but do what pleases me.”
• God to rest - didn’t need to, but had a purpose in enjoying His creation.

Martin- - Screen free day on Sundays (not entirely successful) - like to watch an evening TV show… flowed into more screen time… Muddier - What we’re trying to achieve in our restfulness… the idea of mindfulness - very conscious, response to what you see, hear and sensing… what shuts down when you’re on a computer. - Be more connected with nature, creation or people. - Guided meditation resources…. developing own meditation approaches, focus… introducing edifying thoughts when your relaxing…. About the ‘I am’ statements of Jesus or characteristics of God (extended meditation) - dynamic of going to church, dynamic that you’re busy.

• Ally - George McDonald: paster more depressed on Sundays, should relieve them of the burden of Sundays,… walking first thing in the morning… watch the waking face of morning… can’t go along with it…

Monks - ’Stop doing list Cheerleaders - slow in a good way…. Activest - plan for ideal Sabbath

Good to have an ideas tree - rather than a full ‘plan’…

The Anatomy of the Church

What are we? Are we a body, a temple, a family? I found this summary of metaphors or images of the church to be very empowering but challenging.

More detail at this link

A New Race (Gal. 6; Eph. 2; 1 Pet. 2). We are “a new humanity,” “a chosen generation,” “one new man,” and “a new creation.”

A Family (Gal. 6; Eph. 2; 1 John 2). This is one of the most striking images presented in all the New Testament.

A Body (Rom 12; 1 Cor. 12). We are members of the Body of Christ and members of one another.

A Bride (2 Cor 11; Eph 5; Rev. 21). We are part of the most beautiful woman in the world.

An Army (Eph. 6). As followers of Christ, we are in a war against God’s enemy. But that war is fought by a corporate army.

A Holy Priesthood (1 Pet. 2; Rev. 1; 5). Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest, and we are priests unto God through Him.

A Holy Nation (1 Pet. 2; Rev. 1; 5). The word “holy” carries the idea of being uncommon and set apart.

A Golden Lampstand (Rev. 1-2). We are little lights joined together and made part of the same lampstand.

One Loaf (John 12; 1 Cor. 10). Jesus Christ is the one grain.

God’s Field (1 Cor. 3). We are the crops that have been planted and have grown up in God’s field.

A Vineyard (John 15). Jesus Christ is the vine tree as well as the new wine.

A Sheepfold (John 10; 21; 1 Pet. 2). Jesus Christ is the Great Shepherd, and we are His beloved sheep.

A Temple (1 Cor. 3; 2 Cor. 6; Eph. 2; 1 Pet. 2). We are living stones designed to be assembled together with other living stones to form God’s House.

A City (Php. 3; Heb. 12; Rev. 21-22). We are citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of God.

Building Missional Families

We had a conversation at one point about the yuppie/dinkie focus of some missional resources... Here's something with a family focus...

Building a Missional Marriage

1. The Importance of the Gospel for a Missional Marriage
2. How Marriage Is A Unique Forum For Mission
3. How the Great Commission Affects Your Marriage
4. Has The Great Commission Lost It’s Meaning In Our Families & Culture?
5. How To Make Marriage & Mission One Sphere of Life

Raising Missional Children

1. How To Fit Mission Into Your Schedule
2. How To Disciple Children For Mission
3. How To Make Ministry “Normal” For Your Kids
4. Finding Jesus in the Family Room
5. How To Include Kids in Missional Living
6. How To Raise Kingdom Minded Children
7. How To Disciple Kids In Missional Communities – Part 1  |  Part 2  |  Part 3
8. Children In Your Missional Community
9. Missional Community With Children In Mind

Listen to your neighbourhood: Mike Frost

An exhortation to listen to our communities before jumping in with our pre-fabricated solutions.

Confessions of a warn out soul

So, at the heart of it I’m a nasty, critical, opinionated individual.

From time to time I’m just not interested in being nice or uplifting, and am quite content to be just the opposite.

It is quite easy to put on the careful intelligent hat and presume self importance to acquit oneself of poor behaviour - a practice that I think I am quite a natural at.

It is in this vein that I behaved at the last focus in respect to the video that we watched.

Quite rightly, I had no reason to pull it down or be critical out of some zealous pretence of eclectic vanity.

For this I apologise.

No valid excuse.

No legitimate reason.

Just my tired, warn out desire to spew forth bad vibes for all to share.

’Nuf said.

Chris.

Luke 1 Study notes

Study Notes Luke1

Here are some basic notes from tonight’s focus group:

• Romans 8:14, Wayne Jacobson… Talks about freedom from fear and being able to love others.
• read through passage to the end of the passage.
• 77–78, spiritual awakening, not interpreted as a political liberation, but spiritual
• life changing experience for Zekariah, 30 years before Jesus and John begin ministry, did he keep telling this story?
• Romans4, ancient promise to Abraham - linchpin for it all to work and fit into context
• Parodical Son, more than one way to hide from God, both sons did not show, love for the father
• I am free song and video, central church video http://youtu.be/ielWwGJXmTg, connects to Lk 1:79.